Central Valley Conference (CVC) Championships - Merced

April 20, 2017. Clovis Community College participated in the first of three days at the Central Valley Conference (CVC) Championships in Merced, CA. After the Thursday evening session, the Crush women are leading the meet with 602 points and the men are placed 2nd with a total of 470 points, 80 points behind reigning conference champions, College of Sequoias.

The women started their campaign to win the school's first ever conference title in any sport, with a very strong opening to the evening finals session, by winning two of the first three events. Buchanan HS grad, Lauren Holden and Clovis North HS grad, Makenna LaBlue won the 500y freestyle and 50y backstroke, respectively. The Crush women's team of Nicole Bruno, Lablue, Macayla Robbins, and Rylee Radke finished a close 2nd in the 200 freestyle relay, missing the gold medalists, COS by .01. The team of Holden, Radke, Lauren Barcelos, and Robbins also finished 2nd in the 400 medley relay. Other medalists on the women's side include the following: Rylee Radke (2nd 500y freestyle, 2nd 200y Individual Medley), Lauren Holden (2nd 50y backstroke), Nicole Bruno (3rd 50y breastroke), Makenna LaBlue (3rd 50y freestyle).

The men are following up on last year's 2nd placed effort with a bid to win the conference, as well. The relay team (pictured) of Tanner Davis, Luke Pfaunmiller, Logan Loll, and Nick Anderson out-touched rivals, COS, by .03 to win the 200y freestyle relay. Clovis East graduates, Davis and Pfaunmiller followed that performance by winning two individuals gold medals, taking the 50y breastroke and 50y butterfly, respectively. Buchanan HS alumnus Dante Ramos provided another gold for the men as he topped the field in the 500y freestyle. Other men's medalist include the following: Logan Loll (2nd 200y individual medley), Ryan Martines (3rd 500y freestyle, 3rd 50y breastroke), Nick Anderson (3rd 50y freestyle), Men's 400y medley relay (2nd – Martines, Davis, Pfaunmiller, Anderson).

The CVC Championships continue tomorrow with Day 2 of the three day event. The Crush women will look to extend their lead over COS and Shasta, while the men will look to make up more ground on the perennial champion, COS men's team.